Five teenagers were arrested after three people were injured in a police chase which ended in a smash in Markfield.

Residents near to Launde Road heard “sirens and then a big bang” after a suspect vehicle collided with a car.

Broken glass and debris was strewn across the carriageway after the crash which included a silver Ford Mondeo and a blue Hyundai i10.

The smash happened shortly after 2pm on Saturday afternoon and the 40 mph speed limit stretch was shut off as an investigation got under way.

One resident of neighbouring Ratby Lane, who wished not to be named, said: “We heard sirens for about 10 or 20 seconds then there was a collision and a loud sound.

“We saw the police pin someone on the floor.

“There was an elderly man on the floor in the recovery position.

“There were lots of people out comforting the people in the car.”

The cordon in Launde Road

Another resident from Country Man Way added: “It happened so quickly. We all heard sirens. It was a massive, massive crash.

“I saw boys run out of a car.

“Then I saw police men chasing them on foot.

“You could see the people coming out of one car were elderly.”

She said that she was “shook up” by the event.

The 69-year-old driver of the Hyundai was taken to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment. He remains in hospital where his condition is described as stable. His condition is not believed to be serious.

The blue Hyundai after the crash in Launde Road

A man and a woman sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. Another passenger in the car was uninjured.

The occupants of the Mondeo fled the car but were detained after officers ran after them.

Five teenagers - three 16-year-old youths and two boys, 14 - were arrested on Saturday afternoon on suspicion of aggravated vehicle theft.

They have since been released from police custody pending further enquiries.

A force spokesman said a referral has been made to the police watchdog IPCC following the incident.

The silver Mondeo had been spotted earlier in the day at a petrol station in London Road in Coalville.

Police at the scene of Launde Road

Police said the car was filled up with fuel before deliberately being driven away without payment.

Hours later there were reports of the car’s occupants acting suspiciously in the Main Street area of Peckleton.

A further sighting was reported and police were deployed to catch the car.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “Police responding to a further sighting of the Mondeo [Saturday] afternoon, spotted the vehicle in Ratby Lane and tactics were authorised and officers successfully deployed a tyre deflation device. They continued to follow the vehicle as they attempted to bring it to a safe stop.

“The car continued for a short distance before it collided with the Hyundai.

“Officers would like to speak to anyone who saw the silver Mondeo being driven beforehand or the collision itself.”

The statement added that a mandatory referral was made to the IPCC following the incident.

Anyone with any further information is asked to contact 101 and quote incident 379 of August 12.